The 16 most important things Britons want when buying a house

A house built on a rock on the river.
REUTERS/Marko Djurica
One in four Britons is looking to buy a new home in the next five years but, interestingly, being close to family or having more space aren't the most important factors, says Santander Mortgages.

According to a survey by the group, more and more people are becoming less concerned about the house itself and more about what the property is close to.

The findings show that the average Brit would be willing to pay £6,297 ($9,966) extra to live closer to work or £6,900 ($10,920) more to move to a safer neighbourhood.

"We are becoming a recreation nation as we look to minimise the amount of time we spend travelling to and from work, and maximise the time we can spend enjoying ourselves playing sports, enjoying green spaces and socialising in bars and restaurants," said Miguel Sard, Managing Director of Mortgages, Santander UK.

"Homebuyers are increasingly sacrificing space for location. Some of these sought-after features come with a big price tag, so it is important that they seek advice from experts to better understand what they can and can't afford."

16. Safer neighbourhood — surprisingly low on the list, only 7% say this is a top priority when buying a new home.

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

2/

15. Being close to sports facilities — around 5% of homebuyers really value being next to gyms, leisure centres, and other sports venues. It has grown increasingly more important as this is number has risen from 2% last year.

12. Being close to family — this is ranked relatively low down in the list of priorities for moving house. Maybe this is because extended family may not live anywhere close to work.

11. Strong broadband signal — this ranked higher than being closer to family with 10%.

10. A private outdoor area — around 11% said they would like to have this, even if it means just a balcony or a tiny courtyard.

Getty

8/

9. A south facing garden — while some people are just grateful for some outdoor space, 12% say having a garden that gets all the sun is the most important factor to them.

Getty

9/

8. Investment potential — interestingly, a bulk of Britons looking to move are thinking about how much money they could make from their property in the long term. Around 12% of people value investment potential as their number on priority but ranks slightly ahead of the previous slide because of the average extra a Briton would have to pay to get a better investment – £10,379 ($16,432).

Kennedy Summers, 27, the 2014 Playboy Playmate of the Year, poses next to a Mini John Cooper Works Roadster at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles, California May 15, 2014.
REUTERS/Kevork Djansezian

10/

7. Being next to the shops — some 15% of people are willing to pay an average extra £6,388 ($10,110) to be closer to local amenities.